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〃It does seem so；〃 agreed Tom。 〃Still； we're in no hurry。 It is easier to
be up here； than it is walking around in a jungle； not knowing what minute
a tiger may jump out at you。〃
〃Bless my rubbers； yes！〃 agreed Mr。 Damon。
The sky was covered with lowering clouds； and there were
occasionally flurries of snow。 Tom's airship was well above the snow line
on the mountains。 The young inventor and Ned sat in the pilot house；
taking observations through a spyglass of the mountain chain below them。
Suddenly Ned； who had the glass focused on a mighty peak； cried out：
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〃There she is； Tom！〃
〃What？〃
〃The avalanche！ The snow is beginning to slide down the mountain！
Say； it's going to be a big one； too。 Got your camera ready？〃
〃Sure！ I've had it ready for the last three days。 Put me over there； Ned。
You look after the airship； and I'll take the pictures！〃
Tom sprang to get his apparatus； while his chum hurried to the levers；
wheels and handles that controlled the Flyer。 As they approached the
avalanche they could see the great mass of ice； snow； big stones； and earth
sliding down the mountain side； carrying tall trees with it。
〃This is just what I wanted！〃 cried Tom； as he set his camera working。
〃Put me closer； Ned。〃
Ned obeyed； and the airship was now hovering directly over the
avalanche； and right in its path。 The big landslide； as it would have been
called in this country； met no village in its path； fortunately； or it would
have wiped it out completely。 It was in a wild and desolate region that it
occurred。
〃I want to get a real close view！〃 cried Tom； as he got some pictures
showing a whole grove of giant trees uprooted and carried off。 〃Get closer
Ned； and〃
Tom was interrupted by a cry of alarm from his chum。
〃We're falling！〃 yelled Ned。 〃Something has gone wrong。 We're going
down into the avalanche！〃。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER XVI
TELEGRAPH ORDERS
There was confusion aboard the airship。 Tom； hearing Ned's cry； left
his camera； to rush to the engine room； but not before he had set the
picture apparatus to working automatically。 Mr。 Damon； Mr。 Nestor and
Koku； alarmed by Ned's cries； ran back from the forward part of the craft；
where they had been watching the mighty mass of ice and earth as it
rushed down the side of the mountain。
〃What's wrong； Ned？〃 cried Tom excitedly。
〃I don't know！ The propellers have stopped！ We were running as an
aeroplane you know。 Now we're going down！〃
〃Bless my suspenders！〃 shouted Mr。 Damon。 〃If we land in the midst
of that conglomeration of ice it will be the end of us。〃
〃But we're not going to land there！〃 cried Tom。
How are you going to stop it？〃 demanded Mr。 Nestor。
〃By the gas machine！〃 answered Tom。 〃That will stop us from falling。
Start it up； Ned！〃
〃That's right！ I always forget about that！ I'll have it going in a second！〃
〃Less than a second；〃 called Tom； as he saw how near to the mighty；
rushing avalanche they were coming。
Ned worked rapidly； and in a very short time the downward course of
the airship was checked。 It floated easily above the rushing flood of ice
and earth； and Tom； seeing that his craft； and those on it； were safe；
hurried back to his camera。 Meanwhile the machine had automatically
been taking pictures； but now with the young inventor to manage it； better
results would be obtained。
Tom aimed it here and there； at the most spectacular parts of the
avalanche。 The others gathered around him； after Ned had made an
inspection； and found that a broken electrical wire had caused the
propellers to stop。 This was soon repaired and then； as they were hanging
in the air like a balloon； Tom took picture after picture of the wonderful
sight below them。 Forest after forest was demolished。
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〃This will be a great film！〃 Tom shouted to Ned； as the latter informed
him that the machinery was all right again。 〃Send me up a little。 I want to
get a view from the top； looking down。〃
His chum made the necessary adjustments to the mechanism and then；
there being nothing more to slide down the mountainside the avalanche
was ended。 But what a mass of wreck and ruin there was！ It was as if a
mighty earthquake had torn the mountain asunder。
〃It's a good thing it wasn't on a side of the mountain where people
lived；〃 commented Ned； as the airship rose high toward the clouds。 〃If it
had been； there'd be nothing left of 'em。 What hair…raising stunt are you
going to try next； Tom？〃
〃I don't know。 I expect to hear from Mr。 Period soon。
〃Hear from Mr。 Period？〃 exclaimed Mr。 Nestor。 〃How are you going to
do that； Tom？〃
〃He said he would telegraph me at Berne； Switzerland； at a certain
date； as he knew I was coming to the Alps to try for some avalanche
pictures。 It's two or three days yet； before I can expect the telegram； which
of course will have to come part way by cable。 In the meanwhile； I think
we'll take a little rest； and a vacation。 I want to give the airship an
overhauling； and look to my camera。 There's no telling what Mr。 Period
may want next。〃
〃Then he didn't make out your programme completely before you
started？〃 asked Mr。 Nestor。
〃No； he said he'd communicate with me from time to time。 He is in
touch with what is going on in the world； you know； and if he hears of
anything exciting at any place； I'm to go there at once。 You see he wants
the most sensational films he can get。〃
〃Yes； our company is out to give the best pictures we can secure；〃
spoke Mary's father； 〃and I think we are lucky to have Tom Swift working
for us。 We already have films that no other concern can get。 And we need
them。〃
〃I wonder what became of those men who started to make so much
trouble for you； Tom？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃Well； they seem to have disappeared；〃 replied our hero。 〃Of course
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they may be after me any day now； but for the time being； I've thrown
them off my track。〃
〃So then you don't know where you're going next？〃 asked Ned。
〃No； it may be to Japan； or to the North Pole。 Well； I'm ready for
anything。 We've got plenty of gasolene； and the Flyer can certainly go；〃
said Tom。
They went down to earth in a quiet spot； just outside of a little village；
and there they remained three days； to the no small wonder of the
inhabitants。 Tom wanted to see if his camera was working properly。 So he
developed some of the avalanche pictures； and found them excellent。 The
rest of the time was spent in making some needed repairs to the airship；
while the young inventor overhauled his Wizard machine； that he found
needed a few adjustments。
Their arrival in Berne created quite a sensation； but they were used to
that。 Tom anchored his airship just outside the city； and； accompanied by
Ned； made his way to the telegraph office。 Some of the officials there
could speak English； though not very well。
〃I am expecting a message；〃 said Tom。
〃Yes？ Who for？〃 asked the clerk。
〃Tom Swift。 It will be from America。〃
As Tom said this he observed a man sitting in the corner of the office
get up hurriedly and go out。 All at once his suspicions were aroused。 He
thought of the attempts that had been made to get his Wizard Camera
away from him。
〃Who was that man？〃 he quickly asked the agent。
〃Him？ Oh； he； too； is expecting a message from America。 He has been
here some time。〃
〃Why did he go out so quickly？〃 Ned wanted to know。
〃Why； I can not tell。 He is an Englishman。